Chapter 6 of:
Growing up Isn't Easy

April walked in the apartment door and saw Casey sitting on the couch watching the news.

"Case! Oh thank goodness!"April said dropping her purse onto the kicthen table and walking to the living room.

"What is it April?"Casey said standing up.
"Donatello called me.."April said out of breath.

"And?"Casey said.
"They...found her"April said catching her breath.

"The turtles found Jessie?".
April nodded and took deep breaths.

Casey laughed and smiled."Thats great! Where is she?".
"Oh,i'm about to go get her in the sewers in a minute"April said going to get ready to pick up Jessica."My goodness thank god shes alright!".

"Calm down"Casey said following her."Shes not dead".

April sighed and knew he was right."I know...its just...we're trying to let Jessie have a good vacation here.Then she'll be all grown up and...".

"Jessie knows what she wants to be and how to do it"Casey said."That kid has a good head on her shoulders".

"Then shes been growing up now"April said as Casey nodded."Well i better get going to the turtles".

"Hey if they did anything to her,tell me!"Casey said pointing to her as she made her way to the door.

April laughed and looked at him on her way out."I will".
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Mikey and Donnie were dancing to the music on the radio as Raph and Leo played board games.

Jessica was talking with Splinter in his area.

"You have no one to go to? No Parent?"Splinter asked.
"Oh yeah,i have parents.Its just..."Jessica started but then started to hesitate.

Splinter was waiting for her answer.

"Their getting divorced....and my mom called Aunt April and told me to come here.My parents thought i should get out for a few months"Jessica explained.

"I see.....so far you have been getting out"Splinter said.
"Yeah i guess"Jessica laughed looking up."Thanks to the turtles".She looked out the window and saw Mikey and Donnie dancing.

"How does it feel to have them around 24/7?"Jessie asked giggling.

"24/7?"Splinter asked not knowing what she meant.

"Yeah like...having them around 24 hours,7 days a week".

"Hmmm...well....they can be a handful sometimes.But they can be good heros.."Splinter said.

"How did you all meet my Aunt April?"Jessica asked as Splinter looked at her.

"April reacted to the same way you did when you first saw all of us..."Splinter started."Raph saved her from the subway when ninja's attacked her".

Jessica smiled."Just like how Raph saved me".

"Yes...that is correct"Splinter nodded slowly."I'm sorry about your parents Jessie".

"Me too"Jessica said with her eyes wided for a second."Aunt April and Uncle Casey are the only ones in my family who don't drive me nuts".

"They love you".

"Of course they do.I love them too"Jessica smiled.

Meanwhile,Mikey and Donnie were still dancing.

"Hey Donnie,when's April's coming over?"Mikey asked with his head swaying as he was turning.

"She should be here in a few moments.She had to work"Donnie replied moving with the music.

Suddenly,a slow song came on.It sounded like a good tune to sing"Jessie".

"Oh Jesssssssssssssssie"Mikey started to sing."I loooooooooove yoooooou".

Raph started to crack up as Leo and Donnie said"huh?".

"Mikey i think she could hear ya!"Donnie said.

"Jessssssssssssssie.....pleeeeeeeeeeeease try to fooooooorgive meeeeeee"Mikey continued to sing with the man on the radio.

Donatello sighed and put his hands up in the air."I give up".

"Oh Jessie......Jesssssssssie......when your not with me.......i'm bluuuuuuuuuue".

Raph chuckled as he watched his brother and looked at Leo."Your not the only one".

Leonardo shook his head."April's not gonna like this".

"Taaaaaaaake myyyyyyy haaaaaaaand...."Mikey said with the guy on the radio.

"Who taught him these words anyway?"Raph asked looking at Leo.Leonardo shrugged to reply.

"Oh i don't know...but Mikey's gone nuts"Leo sighed.

"Someone's crushing on my neice?"A voice said from the ladder entrence.

"April!"The four turtles said and ran up to greet her.

Jessica realized her Aunt was here! She got up and went to see her.

After four hugs from the guys,April was ready to see Jessie.

"Wheres Jessica?"April asked looking around.

"Aunt April!"Jessica yelped.

"Jessica!"April said running to her neice."Oh thank goodness!".
They both hugged real tight and the turtles watched.

"H-H-how did you?"April said trying to get the words out.

"My charm bracelet broke and i went down to get it.."Jessica said trying to explain.

"Oh who cares!"April said hugging Jessie."Your alright..".
Jessica let go of April and mumbled to her."Get me out of here,please".

April smiled and saw Splinter."Hello Splinter".

"Miss O'Niel..."Splinter said."Nice to see you.I had a nice chat with Jessica".

April looked at Jessica and smiled."Oh really...".
Everyone looked at Mike and noticed the radio was still on.

"Jessssssssssie.....oh Jessssssssssie..."Mikey was still singing.

Splinter picked up a book and threw it at Mikey."Michaelangelo!!".

Mikey jumped and turned around turning off the radio."Oh hey April! I see you found Jessica!".

"Yes i have and i need her back"April said putting a arm around her shoulder and hugged her.

"Awwww man"All of the turtles said.Some of them said"Aw man,does she have to?",or"Now? awww man".

"You'll see her again,I promise"April said as Jessica went to the steps.

"Bye guys,and thanks for everything"Jessica said waving to everyone.

"How long is she staying?"Leo asked April outloud.
"For a few months Leonardo"April said answering back over her shoulder as Jessica started to climb the bars.

All of the turtles sighed and Master Splinter watched them.
"Working already my sons?".

"Well It was fun while it lasted"Donatello said with shrug going to his work.

"I wonder if we'll see her again"Leonardo said."Shes very interesting".

"Interesting?"Raph asked."Huh? How can she be interesting?".

"I don't know...when i look into her eyes i see her being a sweet person"Leo replied.

"And that she is"Splinter said slowly.

"Your not crushing on her are you...."Donatello was about to ask.

"Me!? Crush on Jessica!?"Leo said pointing to himself."Noooooo! Shes just a friend".

"What about you Mikey?"Raph asked looking at him.But Mikey was daydreaming on the couch."Mikey! Mikey!".

"Huh?"Mikey said looking at the turtles."Oh...yeah i want pepperoni on mine".

Leo and Donnie smiled and walked to go to do their work.

Donnie mumbled to Leo."Gotta admit it,Jessie is pretty hot".

"Yeah she is.But i don't know if..".

"Yeah,we all have feelings for her i think"Donnie said.

"Can't help it huh?"Leo crossed his arms.

"Nope"Donnie replied sitting at his desk."Nope...".
****!*!**!~~~**~*~*~*~

The Shredder watched Professor Perry pour the ooze into the tube where the machine was.

"Oh oh oh!"The Shredder started."This is brillant! Fantasic!".

Professor Perry pretended to smile.He knew what the plan was and what the creatures would look like.

The ooze went through the tubes and into the machine.Suddenly,it all started to shake.Everyone including Shredder stepped back.

After a few seconds of shaking,it stopped.The Shredder smiled as he watched the door open.

The creatures stepped out of the machine.It was huge mutant spike turtle,and a large brown beast.

"YESSSSSS!!"Shredder said raising his fist."My plan is done!!".

The mutant spike turtle went to hug Shredder.
"What!"He said as the monster hugged him.

Professor Perry cleared his throat as he watched."Uh sir..it seems that they are still babies".

"They dont look like it"Shredder said.

"I think the ooze caused that Master".

"Well i'm going to have to train them"Shredder said.
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